Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



Dec. 1,

R. P. TUTTLE RAILWAY TRAFFIC CON'TROLLING APPARATUS Filed March 1, 1924 mvzmoa:

42 m, Zara-242...:

.Alm.

I II III It I III Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

RALPH P. TUT'I'LE, 0F EDGEWGOD BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANZA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH 25 SIGNAL COMPANY, OF E'WIfiSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-TRAFFIC-CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

Application filed. March 1,. 1924. Serial no. 698,341.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, RALPH P. TUTTLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewood Borough, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-TraflicControlling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway trafiic controlling apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of the type comprising train carried governing means controlled by energy received from the trackway.

I will describe one form of railway traflic controlling apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in the claim. I

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form of railway trafiic controlling apparatus embodying my invention. 1

Referring to this drawing, the reference characters 1 and 1 designate the track rails of a railway over which traffic normally moves in the direction indicated by the arrow. These track rails are divided, by means of insulated joints 2, into a plurality of successive track sections, A B, B-C, C-D, etc. A balanced impedance bond 3 is provided adjacent the junction of each two sections for conducting alternating propulsion current around the insulated joints.

Each section is provided with-a track re-.

lay designated by the reference'character T with an exponentv corresponding to the location. Each relay T comprises two windings 4 and 5, one of which windings, 4, is;

constantly connected across therailsadjacent the entrance end of the associated .sec-

tion. each track relay T will be explained hereinafter.

Associated with each track relay Tis an auxiliary relay designated by. the reference character J with a suitable exponent. Each relay J comprises two windings 6 and 7 and a contact member 55 which is swung toward the right or left according to the relative polarity of the currents supplied to windings 6 and 7 When either winding 6 or 7 is deenergized member 55 assumes an intermediate position.

Located adjacent the right hand end of The supply of current'to winding 5 of each track section is a track transformer designated by the reference character H with an exponent. corresponding to the location and having its secondary 8 connected across the rails of the corresponding section. 7 An impedance 12 ls'interposed between secondary 8 of each track transformer H and one rail 1 of the associated section in the usual manner. .Each section is also provided with a line transformer designated by'the reference character E .with an appropriate distinguishing exponent. .The primary 11 of each such line transformer E is constantly supplied with alternating current from some suitable source such as an alternator M over line wires 18 and 18.

Referring particularly to track transformer H this transformer is provided with a circuit which passes. from secondary 10 of line transformer E through wires 31 and 32, front contact 33 of track relay T wires 34 and 35, primary 9 of transformer H wires 36 and 37, front contact 38 of relay T and wires 39 and 40 back to transformer E This circuit is closed only when relay T is energized, under. which condition track circuit current of one relative polarity,

which I will hereinafter term normal relative polarity, is supplied to section CD. W'hen relay T is de-energized current flows from secondary 10 of transformer E through wires 31 and 41, back contact 38 of relay T wires 37 and 36, primary 9 of transformer HP, wires 35 and 34, back contact 33 of relay T and wires 39 and 40, back to transformer E When this circuit is closed current of the opposite relative polarity, which I will hereinafter termreverse relative polarity,.is supplied to the rails of section C-D by transformer H Winding 5 of track relay T is connected in parallel with primary 9 of transformer H, the circuit for this winding passing from wire 34, through wire 42, winding 5 of relay T and wire 43 back to wire 37. It follows that windings 5 of relay T is constantly supplied-with alternating current of the same relative polarity as the alternating current supplied to transformer H But the track circuit current supplied to section CD by transformer H flows through winding 4 of relay T It follows that when the relative polarity of the track circuit ourrent is reversed, the relative polarity of the current in winding 5 of relay T is reversed, and so this relay is always energized when section CD is unoccupied.

ll inding 7 of relay J is constantly supplied with alternating current over a circuit which may be traced from secondary 10 of transformer E through wires 49 and 50, winding 7 of relay J and wire 51 back to transformer E When track relay T is energized winding 6 of relay J is connected in parallel with winding 5 of relay T and primary 9 of transformer H the circuit passing from wire 34, through front contact 15 of relay T wire 46, winding 6 of relay J and wire 1-7 back to wire 37. It will therefore be plain that when relay T is energized, winding 6 of relay J is supplied with current of normal or reverse relative polarity according as relay T is energized orde-energized. lVhenwinding 6 of relay J is supplied with alternating current of normal relative polarity contact member 55 is swung to the right, when winding 6 is supplied. with alternating current of reverse relative polarity contact member is swung to the left, and when the supply of alternating current to winding 6 is interrupted contact member 55 assumes an intermediate position.

Each track section is also provided with a trackway signal designated by the reference character 9 wit-h an exponent corresponding to the location.- These signals S may be of any suitable form. and are here shown as three-position semaphore signals each capable of displaying a proceed, a cantion, or a stop indication. Referring'particularly to signal S the proceed operating circuit for this signal passes from secondary 10 of transformer E through wires 49 and 52, front contact 53 of relay TQ. wire 54, normal contact 55 of relay ,J wire 56, operating mechanism of signal S", and wires 57 and 56 back to transformer E This circuit is closed only when relay T is energized and relay J is energized in the normal direction, under which conditions signal S displays a proceed indication. When relay T is energizedand relay J is energized in the reverse direction, currentfiows from secondary 10 of transformer E through wires 19 and52, front contact of relay E wire5-1, reverse contact 55 of relay J wire 59 operating mechanism of signal S wires 57 and 58 back to transformer E and sig- Ila-1S then displays a caution indication. When relay T (and therefore relay J is de-energized the operating circuits for signal S are interrupted and the signal then displays a stop indication.

Means are also provided for supplying to the rails of each section'in parallel a current which I will hereinafter term a loop current. For this purpose I provide two loop transformers F and F located at points B and D respectively and each comprising a primary 15 and two secondaries 16 and 17. Primary 15 of each such transformer is constantly supplied with alternating current by secondary 10 of the associated line transformer. Referring particularly to section CD the loop circuit for this section passes from secondary 16 of loop trans former F through impedance 13, wire 62, impedance bond 3 at point 1), through the rails of section 0-1) in parallel to impedance bond 3 at point C, thence by wires 61 and 60 back to secondary 16 of transformer F Similarly, the loop circuit for section B-C may be traced from secondary 17 of turnsformer F through wires 63 and 61, impedance bond 3 at point C. through the rails of section BO in parallel to impedance bond 3 at point B, thence by wire 64, impedance 14 and wire 65, back to secondary 1'? of transformer F The remaining sections are each provided with loop circuits similar to those just traced for sections B-C and CD.

The trackway apparatus thus far described is suitable for co-operation with train carried governing apparatus such as illustrated on trains indicated diagrammatically at X and Z and occupying sections BC and C-D, respectively. Referring particularly to train X, this train is provided with two magnetizable cores 20 and 20 located in advance of the front axle 19 of the train and in inductive relation with the two track rails 1 and 1, respectively. These two cores are provided with two windings 21 and 21*, respectively, which windings are so connected that the eletromotive forces induced in these two windings by alternating currents which flow in opposite directions in the two track rails at any instant are additive. The two windings21 and 21 1 will hereinafter term the trackcoil. A similar pair of cores 23 and 2 a are located in inductive relation with the track rails at some other point on the train such as in rear of the front axle of the train. Cores 23 and 23 are provided with windings 24 and 24, so connected that the electromotivc forces induced in these windings by alternating currents which flow in the samedirectionin rails 1 and 1 at any instant are additive. The two windings 2 and 24? I will hereinafter term the loop coil. Located also upon the train is a relay P comprising two windings 26 andv 27, a rotor 28 and two contact members 28 and 29 operated by this rotor. The track coil is connected, preferably by means of suitable amplifying apparatus 22, with winding 27 of relay. ,1 Similary, the loop coil is connected, preferably through amplifying apparatus 25, with winding 26 of relay P. It will therefore be plain that as train X moves through section CD, track circuit current induced in the track coil will energize Wind ing 27 and loop current induced in the loop coil will energize winding 26. Relay P is responsive to the relative polarities of currents in windings 26 and 27. The parts are so arranged that when the train occupies a section which is being supplied with loop current and also with track circuit current of normal relative polarity, relay P is energized in the normal direction and contact members 28 and 29 are swung to the right; when the train occupies a section which is being supplied with loop current and also with track circuit current of reverse relative polarity, relay P is energized in the reverse direction and contact members 28 and 29 are swung to the left; when the supply of either loop or track circuit current to the rails occupied by the train is for any reason interrupted, relay P is de-energized and contact members 28 and 29 occupy an intermediate position.

Relay P may be used to control train carried governing means in any desired manner. As here shown this relay controls an indicator L, and a brake controlling magnet 30. Magnet 30 is arranged to apply the brakes when de-energized. The circuit for this magnet may be traced from a suitable source of energy such as a generator K, through wire 66, normal contact 28 of relay P. wire 67 winding of magnet 30 and wire 68 back to generator K. It follows that the magnet will be energized only when relay P is energized in the normal direction.

The indicator L comprises two light units G and Y arranged when lighted to indicate proceed and stop respectively. The indicator L is further provided with a third unit R, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. hen relay P is energized in the normal direction, unit G is supplied with. current over a circuit which may be traced from generator K. through wires 66 and 69, normal contact 29 of relay P. wire 70, unitG, and wires 71 and 72 back to generator KC When relay P is energized in the reverse direction current flows from generator K, through wires 66 and 69, reverse contact 29 of relay P, wire 7 3, unit Y and wires 74 and 72 back to generator K. so that unit Y is then energized. When relay P is deenergized current flows from generator K, through wires 66 and 69, back contact 29 of relay P, wire 75, unit R, and wires 76, 74 and 72 back to generator K. When this circuit is closed unit R is energized.

The governing mechanism associated with train Z is similar in all respects to that just described for train X.

As shown in the drawing train X occupies section CD, train Z occupies section 'BC, and section AB is unoccupied. Under these conditions track relays T and T are energized, but track relays T and T are deenergized. 'Loop current is of course supplied to each of the sections shown in the drawing. Relay J is energized in the normal direction so that signal S indicates proceed. Relay T being energized, track circuitcurrent of normal relative polarity is supplied to section C-.D and relay P on train X is therefore energized in the normal direction, causing indicator L to indicate proceed and causing magnet 30 to be energized. Track circuit current is shunted away from winding 4 of relay T by the wheels and axles of train X and this relay is therefore de-energized. The circuit for winding 6 of relay J is now open at the front contact 45 of relay T and relay J C is therefore de-energized, so that signal S in dicates stop. Relay T being de-energized, track circuit current of reverse relative polarity is supplied to section BC by transformer H Relay P on train Z is therefore energized in the reverse direction, thus causing indicator L to display a stop indication and de-energizing magnet 30 to apply the brakes. Relays T and J B are both deenergized. Track circuit current of reverse relative polarity is supplied to section AB, and the instantaneous polarity of the current in winding 5 of relay T is reversed. This relay is therefore energized, closing the circuit for winding 6 of relay J Relay J is therefore energized in the reverse direction and closes the caution operating circuit for signal S which therefore indicates caution. Track circuit current of normal relative polarity is therefore supplied to the section to the left of point A. v i

I will now assume that train Z proceeds into section CD in the rear of train X. Track circuit current will then be shunted away from track coils 21 and 21 on train Z. thus interrupting the supply of current to winding 27 of relay P and causing this relay to become de-energized. Unit B of in dicator L will then be lighted to indicate section occupied.

It will be plain that with apparatus embodying my invention, a train receives a proceed indication when traflic conditions are safe, a stop indication when the block in advance of the train is occupied, and a third distinguishing indication or a section occupied indication when the train enters an occupied section.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form and arrangement of railway traflic controlling apparatus embodying my invention. it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described mv invention, what I claim is:

In combination, a stretch of railway track,

a track relay having a first winding connected with the rails of the stretch and a second winding, an auxiliary relay having a first and a second winding, means for constantly supplying alternating current to the first winding of said auxiliary relay, a transformer for supplying alternating current to the rails of the stretch, means for supplying the primary of said transformer with alternating current of one relative polarity or the other depending on traflic conditions.

means for connecting the second winding of said track relay in parallel with the primary 01"- said transformer, means controlled by said track relay for at times connecting the second winding of said auxiliary relay in parallel with the primary of said transformer, and trackway signaling means controlled hy said auxiliary relay.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RALPH P. TUTTLE. 

